Govt working on sustainable power policy: Kabir

The interim government is working to eliminate the past practices that enabled corruption and moving towards achieving a sustainable power policy, Adviser for the power, energy and mineral resources ministry Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said Wednesday.
"The primary goal of the former government in the power and energy sector seemed to be enabling corruption rather than achieving sustainable development," he said, adding, "We are moving away from the existing policy related to independent power producers and implementing a more sustainable one."
Khan was speaking as the chief guest while inaugurating the three-day Bangladesh Energy Prosperity (BEP) 2050 conference at the BIAM Auditorium in the capital's Eskaton.
"We have restored the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission's power to fix electricity tariffs. We are also revising the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan as well as re-evaluating the renewable energy policy," he said.
Adviser to the environment, forest and climate change ministry Syeda Rizwana Hasan chaired the inaugural session where Dr Mohammad Tamim, a professor in the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and Munawar Misbah Moin, managing director of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy, were the special guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Rizwana echoed Khan, saying the interim government is working to ensure a sustainable energy policy, adding it would adopt all necessary policies and legal frameworks to achieve the goal.
Bangladesh faces significant challenges in achieving energy prosperity, compounded by unequal power deals and the ongoing crises, she said, adding energy accessibility remains a pressing issue with persistent gaps in quality, affordability, and transparency.
Meeting the 40 per cent renewable energy target by 2041 requires clear policies, strong private sector engagement, and a shift from energy production to conservation, Rizwana added.
Ensuring reliable power for industries, adopting subsidised renewable energy for energy-intensive sectors, and repurposing the power plant land for solar or other renewable projects could accelerate the transition, she further said.
The environment adviser said the government would give importance to public opinions in the revised power sector action plan and is now striving to address the challenges in the sector.
Although the existing agreements in the power sector are inconsistent, it is very difficult to cancel those as the process is very costly and time-consuming, Rizwana remarked. "Therefore, decisions should be made through careful planning."
Directives have been given to publish the environmental impact assessment reports of power projects online, she said.
The adviser emphasised the need for modern building designs to promote energy efficiency and urged to increase the use of renewable energy. She also suggested tree plantation on the land acquired for power projects.
The BEP 2050 conference is uniting over 300 national and international representatives, including policymakers, energy experts, development partners, private sector investors and financiers, civil society organisations, and youths for an impactful event.
Building on the success of its first edition in 2023, this year's conference features 23 co-organisers dedicated to advancing the shift towards renewable energy, powering prosperity through a collaborative approach to sustainable development.
Two parallel sessions took place at the conference, focusing on the critical themes of policy coherence in the energy and power sector for green transition as well as institutional reform for just and green transition in Bangladesh.
The conference will run until tomorrow with the aim to drive cohesive actions for a green and just transition for shaping a sustainable energy future in Bangladesh.

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